Notice of Public Hearing

I got a letter from the Zoning Board of Appeals. My hearing is scheduled for just over TWO WEEKS FROM NOW! I had no idea it would be so fast. Does anyone have an Ativan?
I had to run over to the zoning board to pick up this sign this morning (late for work) and it needs to be posted on the front of my house for two weeks before the hearing and until I get a written decision from the board.

I have an appointment with the Historical Commission tomorrow (leaving early from work) to show them my plans. I'm hoping they like them and will write a letter of recommendation to the board. I've been taking a bunch of photos of other houses on the street that have a close setback to show that such a violation can still look nice. Actually I think the closeness adds to the historical character, don't you think?

Close and beautiful.

Closer and beautiful. (I think mine will be pretty close to this.)

You can't get much closer than this one.

This is one of my favorite houses.

Pretty darn close. I love that they painted their entire entryway black. I think it's really handsome.

Now this is just ridiculous. This makes me want to get on the board so I can I reject it. The paint doesn't even match. That should be some kind of violation right there.

Close and perfectly lovely.

Close and pink. Very pink. I probably wouldn't pick the paint but it does look pretty for the one week the tree is in bloom.And while I was taking pictures, I thought I snap a few quick ones of the garden so you can see how it's shaping up. On the back (chain link) fence of my neighbor's, they have an autumn clematis. I asked them if I could trim it. By the time I was done, there was almost nothing left. Oops.

And now it's all cut back, I kind of like seeing through it a little bit. Wouldn't something like an espaliered apple be cool?

Fabric Ideas for Pillows

Just in case you saw the post today over at The Polished Pebble, you're not having a deja vu. I guess today is Wendy Lewis day. When I saw Kelley's post, I thought I'd share few ideas I recently considered for a pillow I wanted to make for my mom for Mother's Day. When I saw this "MM" initialed grain sack with a flower in between at Wendy's Textile Trunk, I thought, Hey, that looks like it says "MOM"! My mom loves pillows and I thought this would make a perfect centerpiece for a pillow. So here a few options I considered for the pillow.

This red toile and the MOM sack were a perfect match.

Here were a few more nice complementary fabrics with a gray-green check that I think really worked with the palette in my mother's room.

Here was another option that I thought might work.

And here was the final choice. This softer color palette, minus the white, I thought was the perfect combination.

And here is the final product. Mom has a lot of things going on in her room and often changes comforters and quilts so even though there were a few fabrics being used, I thought this kept it pretty simple so it would work with almost anything.

The inside down pillow insert is covered in the floral and slipped into a "sleeve" that has the MOM grainsack on the front and gray-green check on the back with a simple tie on the side.

Mom is vacationing in Arizona so she hasn't seen it yet. I hope she likes it.

Geneaology of your Old House, Ancestry.com

In the last post, I used old maps to discover who some of the owners of the Urban Cottage were. Now I have the names, I'll use Ancestry.com to learn about those people. Ancestry.com does require a membership of about $20 per month but unless you're searching your family tree, you could easily get everything done in one month.

Barnes Putnam, the first owner of the house, has been a real challenge. I find a few listings for a Barnes Putnam in census data but prior to 1880, names of wives and children were not recorded so it's difficult to cross reference various sources to ensure it's my Barnes Putnam. I also found other residents of the Urban Cottage in census data and old City Directories on Ancestry.com which proved my belief that the Watson family owned this house as an income property. We can talk about these people later and how I found them.

I was able to find out a lot more about Jennie T. Ray and she is a much more interesting person.

My first search for Jennie T. Ray found a 26-old-woman, married to a Sylvester Ray, living in Boston. Using her husband's name "Sylvester Ray" I search again to find him in Cambridge in 1900 married to "Janie T. Ray" at my address so this is the right person.

This is a good example of the problems I also found searching my family tree. Little attention was paid to correct spellings. My great, great, great grandfather Zelora was spelled Zelora, Zelara, and Gellora so I really needed the names of his children to keep track of him as he moved from New York to Michigan. You will sometimes need to cross reference your information to make sure you have the right person.

So back to Jennie.

Here is the 1880 U.S. census for Boston. Jennie is a white female, 26 years old, married to Sylvester, and her occupation is "keeping house." Sylvester is a black male, 38 years old, who is a hostler (one who works in a stable caring for horses). They have a daughter named Frances who is nine years old, listed as mulato, and she is "at school." They are living in the shadow of the Bunker Hill monument in the Charlestown section of Boston. Also living with them is Sylvester's brother Richard Ray who is a painter. They have all moved to Boston from New Jersey. Further research on Sylvester shows that he was enlisted as a "landsman" stationed in Trenton, NJ during the Civil War.

Is Richard with them to help with expenses or are they helping him out by allowing him to live with them? Perhaps we'll get clues later.

The 1890 census records were destroyed in a fire. It does exist for some states but I was not able to find anything for this couple in 1890. The census of 1900 is the first time we see Jennie in Cambridge. This aligns with the Harvard information as well as the 1903 map that shows Jennie T. Ray owned the house.

This is a little messy but we can see Sylvester and Jennie living at #8 (the Urban Cottage). Note that both names are spelled incorrectly: Slyvester and Janie. I'm not sure how Ancestry.com makes this information searchable. Whether its done by humans or some kind of optical character recognition software, this messy writing can't help things.

Also note that living with them are her neice Eva Young and her nephew-in-law John H. Young. Are the Youngs helping Jennie and Sylvester pay the mortgage or have they invited them from New Jersey to help this young couple get a start?

Further out on those lines we see that Sylvester and Jennie (the red star is always next to Jennie) have been married for 30 years which takes us back to 1870, five years after the end of the Civil War. Highlighted in yellow we see that Jennie had two children and only one is living. Once daughters get married and change their names, it's extremely difficult to find them so we don't know if Jennie had another child that died before or after the 1880 census or whether Frances died and they had another child after the 1880 census.

We also see right below the record of Jennie's two children that her niece who has been married one year also had a child and zero children are now living. Perhaps Jennie invited her niece to live with them after she lost her child. Jennie was empathetic to the loss of a child and perhaps though she could help.

The 1910 census provided a shock and some clarity. Jennie is still living at #8 Urban Cottage but she is widowed. Remember the 1903 map showed Jennie owning the house. It did seem odd to me that the house was in Jennie's name rather than her husband's but now it makes sense. Searching through Cambridge Directories on Ancestry.com, 1901 is last year there is a listing for Sylvester. As Jennie was helping her niece recover from the loss of a child, Jennie suffers the loss of her husband.

Just below Jennie in this census we also see other people living in the house. Clara Mayor, (it looks like Mazer to me but I confirmed Mayor in the city directory) who is also widowed, and her three children have moved into the house. I had been told that my house was a two-family house at one time. This makes me believe that Jennie was the one that converted the house. Without her husband's income, she needed help. And by renting the upstairs of the house, she was able to keep the house while satisfying her own need to help others. The Mayors are also listed as mulato.

It's also in 1902 we see Jennie listed in the Cambridge Directory. She's hung out her shingle as a music teacher.

In 1920, we see Jennie at 67 years old. The "O" and "M" after her name means she owns her home (rather than rents) and she still has a mortgage. City Directories show that she is still teaching music out of the Urban Cottage. She has one boarder named Catherine Webb, a 58-year-old widow.
Finally, in 1930 Jennie is living alone at #8. She is 77 years old and owns her home valued at $2200. Is she lonely or is she finally able to enjoy her little urban cottage to herself?

I can see Jennie listed in Cambridge City Directories until 1937.

Although the maps gave me the name Jennie T. Ray, delving into these records helps tell the story of her life. She is someone that we see throughout her life helping others. I now feel I know the woman that walked up and down my stairs, cooked Sunday suppers in my kitchen and perhaps planted flowers outside my back door.

And it feels good to know she was here.

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing all the mom's a wonderful Mother's Day!

Lily of the Valley was one of my grandmother's favorite

flowers so this Mother's Day I picked a nice

little bunch to remind me of her.

The Genealogy of your Old House, Maps

If you live in an old house, you've probably wondered about the families that lived in your house before you. Who they were, what they did for work, what their lives were like. These are just a few of the things I've wondered about my old house's former residents. Recently I've been researching my family's genealogy trying to prove or disprove old family tales of ancestors being on the Mayflower. The internet has some wonderful research tools so I wondered whether or not I could use these same tools to learn a little bit about the "genealogy" of the Urban Cottage.

The biggest hurdle is learning the names of the former residents. We're extremely lucky in Cambridge to have had a project undertaken by an assistant librarian at the Harvard School of Design to document every building in Cambridge. It's not complete but it does list some key data points which can be helpful.

The Harvard listing for my house shows a two-story structure was built in 1843. In 1842 a land deed transfered ownership from Catherine Watson to Barnes Putnam. It also shows a building tax paid by Barnes Putnam so it stands to reason that Mr. Putnam built the house (or had it built). In 1846 a house tax was paid by the heirs of William Watson so the property ended up back in the hands of the Watsons. The house is also documented on the 1854 Walling map of Cambridge which is the earliest map of Cambridge showing structures. And, finally, the house was sold by George Averill to Jennie T. Ray in 1892.

So let's take a look at maps from Cambridge and see what else they may tell us.

This 1854 map shows houses that existed at the time. Unfortunately there are no names of property owners. Even though I've marked it with a star, it's fairly easy to spot my house because it's right next to the long, narrow strip of land, a little alleyway. Today, it's the last remaining dirt street in the city.Since my house was built 11 years before this map was made, I thought it would be fun to see what the street looked like at the time the house was built in 1843. So using technology, I took the map back in time from 1854 to 1843 by editing out houses (using the Harvard database) that were built after 1843. So this is what my street looked like when the house was built in 1843. It's hard to imagine what all the open space would have looked like.

This 1873 map is the first map I can find that shows property owners. I put a red star next to my house and the little dirt street that borders the garden side of my lot.

These maps seem fairly available on the internet, for urban areas anyway. Try doing a google search for your town's/city's name and "antique" or "historical maps." All of the maps in this post, I found on the internet. If you can't find anything, I'm sure you could make a call to or an appointment with your local Historical Society/Commission. I have found the people at my local historical commission thrilled to help. I'm sure you can also get the information from your Registry of Deeds but that seems a little more daunting to me.

Here's another map of my house from 1894 (just above the red line) showing the house still owned by the Watson family. The Watsons are well known in my neck of the woods. I think it's doubtful the Watson family, who would have been quite wealthy, would have lived in my house. It was very much a working class neighborhood. So it's also important to remember when doing this research that the property owner may not be the same as the resident of the property.

It's interesting to note that this map contradicts the Harvard data which showed the property being sold by George Averill to Jennie T. Ray in 1892. Sometimes this process is like putting together a puzzle that someone's thrown a few extra pieces into. Sometimes you just have to collect and lay out all of the peices and see what you have before the puzzle will go together. Particularly when you start to look at census records, names can be mispelled and sometimes just incorrect.

This 1903 map shows Jennie Ray was the owner of the property. This makes sense if she bought it in 1892. It also appears that the property has been divided into two smaller lots. The previous map showed the lot was 3175 square feet and now Jennie Ray owns 2200 square feet and another owner right behind her has 1000 square feet. Did she divide the property?

In 1916, Jennie T. Ray still owns the property. This woman interests me for some reason. I even like her name.

And finally in 1930, we still see Jennie T. Ray owning the property. I know the family that I bought the house from purchased it in 1940. So it seems the home has transferred hands very few times over its 167 years.

So these maps provide a few names we can research to (try to) learn a little more about the people that lived here. Putnam Barnes, the Watsons and Jennie T. Ray. Next time we'll see what we can find about these people.

Can you find any maps that show who owned your old house?

Fiddleheads

When I first moved to Boston, I had to learn to understand a new language. The milkshake that I grew up with is called a frappe here. A can of pop is called a tonic. And of course there's the famous sentence that highlights the local accent "I pahked my cah in Hahvahd Yahd." But Boston (and New England) also has its own foods. I grew up thinking that clams only came in strips but here they come with bellies. Our "chowdah" has, of course, become world famous. And then we have the lesser known fiddlehead.
Fiddleheads are the unfurled fronds of the ostrich fern. They're only in season for a few short weeks and apparently some people go crazy for them. I've had them several times and I don't dislike them but I don't love them either. I would say I'm indifferent to them.

When I saw them at Whole Foods today, I thought I'd pick some up and try them again. They came with instructions. You're supposed to soak and/or wash them several times. If not washed properly, I guess they can be bitter. And then you boil them in salted water, or steam them, until cooked.

Finally, saute them with olive oil (or butter), garlic and red pepper flakes. I've had them splashed with a little vinegar so I thought I'd try using a little lemon to brighten them up.

And here's the final product.

What do they taste like you ask? Well, it's hard to describe. The flavor is very subtle. Some people say they taste a little like green beans but I think the texture is maybe like a green bean but I don't get a green bean flavor. I get a very subtle asparagus flavor but I'm talking very subtle. I guess the best way to describe the taste is like, well, ferns.

There's no question that fiddleheads are fun. The name is cute and bright green spirals couldn't be more beautiful. While I'm still a little indifferent about the taste of fiddleheads, they're a sure sign of spring!

Have you ever seen them before? And if you've tried them, do you like them?

Variance Application Filed

I skipped out of work early yesterday to go file the variance application for my porch. So if I've done everything correctly, the process is under way and I'll have my hearing within the next 65 days as required by law. I'm hoping to be able to show real photos of the exterior work in progress soon but I don't want my porch inspiration photos to go to waste.

While you enjoy the photos, I'll bore you with my little story of talking to my last abutting neighbor and going to file my application...or you can just look at the pictures!

About four years ago my neighbor renovated her house inside and out and restored the front porch she found in an old photo of the house from about the 1920s. She said she was very nervous about the hearing so she went with her architect and her family. Once her hearing was called, she was calmed to hear that three neighbors had sent in letters of support...

(Love the green ceiling on this porch.)

...but there was also one letter of opposition. (gasp.)

The letters of support and one letter of objection were read into the record. They did not read the name of the naysayer but from the content she could tell that it was the neighbor immediately next door (two doors down from me). She did end up getting her variance but opposition wasn't something that she was prepared for. And she was a little hurt that nothing was said beforehand. I'm a little shocked myself but at least I'm informed and I leave this meeting with the promise of another letter of support.

But now Objecting Neighbor has me a little worried. She has been extremely complimentary to all of the improvements I've made. I've caught her admiring my garden. She even tells her dog not to pee on my lawn. But now I'm wondering what kind of monster she really might be! I wonder whether or not under the protection of anonymity, a nice neighbor turns nasty. She'll probably get a notice from the city but, if not, I have to post this HUGE "Public Notice" sign on my house, like some big Scarlet Letter, advising passersby that I'm seeking relief from the zoning ordinance.

So back to yesterday. I go to the building department between 3:30 and 4:30 (just as required) to find three lines of people: one for building permits, one for demolition permits and one for variances. I'm second in the variance line. The two people in front of me I believe are a homeowner and his architect trying to find out how to word their application for a nonconforming addition so it will be "better received." Are you kidding me? They debated options back and forth for what seemed like a half hour. I'm expecting any minute to be told "Sorry, we're done. You'll have to come back tomorrow."

But finally "Unprepared Duo" decided to go with the wording they had and they stepped aside so I could more forward. "Buddy, what I can do for you?" "I'm here to submit my application for a variance to build a historical front porch." "Are you the architect?" "No, I'm the homeowner." "Who filled out this application?"

Hmm. Is this a trick question? "My architect and I did it together."

I must have passed the test because he took my three-ring binder with each response item perfectly tabbed in the same order that the Application Checklist set forth.

"Have you been to Historical?" "No, do I have to?" "Yup. They just need to sign off on the fact that it's not a historic property or that you're in a historic district."

Actually it was great that I had to go to the Historical Commission because I got to ask if, once I got my hearing date, I could make an appointment to show the Director my plans. If he likes the plans, he will write a letter to the Zoning Board supporting my application. I'm sure Historical Commission outweighs Objecting Neighbor. They tell me to call and make an appointment.

Five minutes later I'm done at the Historical Commission and I head back downstairs where I pass in my application, my blueprints, my Historical Commission seal of approval and my application fee of $120. And I'm on my way...to wait.

Boy, these ladies are annoying. I don't know why they keep hanging out on my front porch inspiration photo. It's hard for me imagine myself hanging out here when they won't leave. I wish they would go away.

So the weekend is here and I think I need to talk to Objecting Neighbor. I think I'll invite her over coffee and scones, show her the plans, look into the face of the monster and ask for her support. She couldn't possibly write a letter of objection after having one of my famous blueberry scones, could she? They're chock full of blueberries, just the right amount of lemon zest and a little crunch of crystalized sugar on the top. Surely she'll be impressed with my use of parchment paper too.

Maybe she would prefer tea.

I'll have pull out the good china just in case monsters like tea.

Have a great weekend!

Credits 1.,5. Martha 2. This Old House 3.,8. Country Living 4. Coastal Living 6. Evan Sklar 7. Appraisal.com; 9. Rosie's Whimsy 10. Southern Living